How To Downgrade From Microsoft Windows 8 to Windows 7 [Guide]

Ever since Windows 8 Consumer Preview was released, many users have been itching to try out the shiny new operating system. Microsoft Inc.  (NASDAQ:MSFT) has already confirmed that all Windows 7 applications will work on Windows 8. But what if you have upgraded your operating system (OS) to Windows 8, and  are not comfortable in with the new OS?

It is always recommended to have a dual-boot between Windows 7 and Windows 8, instead of upgrading. Dual booting is very easy, as the user just needs to create a new partition and then install Windows 8 on that new partition. When booting, a user can select the OS that he wants to boot using the boot manager.

If your processor supports Virtualization technology, then you can also install Windows 8 on VirtualBox. This is by far the best method to try out any new OS without worrying about losing any data or creating a new partition.

If you have upgraded to Windows 8 from Windows 7, then unfortunately the only way is to format the system drive and re-install Windows 7. You can format the system drive in which you have installed Windows 8, which will protect all data on the other drives. Remember that formating the system will erase all your data, settings and everything.

In case you have installed Windows 8 on a separate partition, excluding the original system drive, then follow the below guide to downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7.

Disclaimer: ValueWalk is not responsible for any data loss during this process. We recommend backing up your important files before proceeding. 

Follow the below tutorial to downgrade from Windows 8 to Windows 7

Step 1:
The first step involves removing Windows 8 from boot loader. To do this, you can use a free utility, EasyBCD. Download and install this utlility. Open the program (with administrator rights). From the sidebar, click on ‘Edit boot menu’. Select ‘Windows 8 Consumer Preview’ and click on ‘Delete’. Tick mark the checkbox for previous version of Windows to load that by default. Save the settings.

Step 2:
From the sidebar, click on ‘BCD backup/repair’. Select ‘Re-create/repair boot files’ and then click ‘Perform Action’.

This would remove Windows 8 from boot loader. Test it by restarting your system. If your computer directly boots to Windows 7, then you are set and its time to move to step 3. But if you are still able to see Windows 8 option in the boot loader, then follow the above process again carefully.

Step 3:

Now that we have got rid of the boot loader, its time to remove the Windows 8 partition. Decide whether you want to remove the partition and merge it, or whether you want to just format it. If you select the latter option, then all you need to do is to just right-click on that Windows 8 partition and click on “Format”.

However, if you want to merge this partition and extend the space, then you need to open Disk Management. Type “disk management” from the Start menu and press enter; select the Windows 8 partition. click on ‘Delete Volume’ and then click ‘Yes’ to continue. Right click on the free space and click ‘Delete Partition’m then click on ‘Yes’ to confirm. Now you will be able to see ‘unallocated’ space. Select the drive that you want to extend and right click ‘Extend Volume’. Click ‘Next’, and if you want to utilize all the unallocated space click ‘Next’ again. Click on ‘Finish’ to complete this process.

That’s all you need to do. Hope this method helps you to get rid of Windows 8.